Wooden musical toy



C. GOMEZ ETAL.

WOODEN MUSICAL TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 23 1959 ARLGS JUAN R. ViCTOR Oo.. .n

Feb. 6 1962 c. GOMEZ ETAL 3,019,553

WOODEN MUSICAL TOY Filed Oct. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TORS L S GOMEZ CAJBU/SRI R. VICTOR By 9W United States kPatent O 3,019,553 WOODEN MUSICAL TOY Carlos Gomez, 914 Jefferson Ave., and Juan R. Victor, 916 Jefferson Ave., both of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 23, 1959, Ser. N o. 848,246 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-191) This invention relates to a sounding device and more particularly to a sounding device of the clapper type.

, An important object of the present invention is to provide a clapper which is very simple in construction, which is easy to use, and which may be operated to give rhythmic sounds similar to drum beats or the sounds produced in tap dancing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clapper which is very inexpensive to manufacture, which is sturdy in construction and which provides asubstantial degree of entertainment and amusement.

A further object of the kinvention is to provide a elapper having akhinged strip and hammer on each side of the strip of wood forming the body of the clapper so as to provide a more lively repetition of hammer strokes than clappers having a spring tongue and hammer on one side only of the body.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a clapper that maybe used for beating time either in solo or in accompaniment to musical instruments, preferably string instruments. i y

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure: f f

FIG. l is a front elevational view of a clapper embodying the invention. n f

FIG. 2 is an edge view thereof showing in full lines the clapper elements swung to open position away from the clapper body and showing in dot-dash lines the clapper elements in striking sound-producing position.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG. l, with the clapper elements in the position of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the strip forming the body of the clapper.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one of the hinge leaves.

FIG. 6 is a similarview of another hinge leaf.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the top end of a clapper embodying modified means for urging the clapper elements to striking sound-producing position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 a clapper made in accordance with the invention is shown and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The clapper 10 comprises a substantially rectangular strip 12 of wood forming the body of the clapper. One end of the strip is rounded as indicated at 14, and the other end continues into a central extension of reduced width serving as a handle 16, the body and handle merging gracefully by means of curved shoulders 18. A semi-spherical metal member 20 is mounted on each of the front and rear sides, as viewed in FIG. 1, of the strip 12, at the center of the bottom rounded end 14 thereof and is fastened thereto by means of an integral pin 22 radiating from the central interior surface thereof as seen in FIG. 3. y

On each ofthe front and rear sides of the strip 12, as viewed in FIG. 1, another wooden strip 24, of similar dimensions as the strip or body 12 and having a similar rounded bottom end 26, is hingedly connected to the body 12 at its juncture with the handle 16. Each strip 3,019,553 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 24, however, has a rounded top end 28. The strips 24 y constitute clappers.

The hinge connection between the body 12 and each strip 24 includes a hinge leaf in the form of a metal plate 30, rectangular in shape, fastened atwise against the body 12 at its juncture with the handle 16 by means of tacks 32 extending through holes 34 in the plate. A pair of spaced knuckles 36 is formed on the top edge of the plate 30 at the ends thereof. rA similar hinge leaf in the form of a metal plate 38 of similar dimensions as the plate 30 is` fastened atwise against the adjacent surface of the strip 24 at the top end thereof by means of tacks 40 extending through holes 42 in the plate 38. A pair of spaced knuckles 44 are formed on the top edge of plate 38 inwardly of the ends thereof and a lug 46 is formed on the same edge in the space between the` knuckles and extending outwardly of the plate in the plane of the body thereof. The lug is offset from the` plane of the knuckles on the leaves. The knuckles 44 on plate 38 fit in between the knuckles'36 on plate30 and are disposed in alignment therewith so that the hinge leaves are connected by a hinge pin 48 extending through the openings in the aligned knuckles. A metal dish shaped button S0 is mounted on the inner surface of each strip 24 at the central bottom end thereof and is fastened thereto by protruding prongs 52 spaced around the periphery thereof extending into notches 54 in the surface of the strip. The semi-spherica1 members 20 on the body 12 are disposed in the path of movement of the buttons 50 on the strips 24, which buttons serve as hammers for striking the members 20.

In accordance with the invention resilient means for urging the strips 24 inwardly toward the body 12 is provided in the form of a coiled spring 56 extending through a transverse opening 58 in the body 12 at its juncture with the handle 16. The opening terminates in enlarged countersunk portions 62. The ends of the spring impinge against the lugs 46 with the hinge pin acting as a fulcrum.

` An outward thrust against the lug 46 forces the outer upper end of the strip 24 above the hinge line outwardly and the remainder of the strip inwardly.

In FIG. 7, there is shown a modified form of resilient means for urging the strips 24 inwardly toward the body 12. This takes the form of rubber pads 60 seated in the countersunk portions 62 of the body 12 impingiug against the lugs 46 and urging them away from the body.

In use, the handle 16 is held between the fingers of the hand and the device shaken whereby the clappers 24 are vibrated causing the hammers 50 to strike against the members 20 on the body 12 producing a sound. With a clapper on each side of the body, a lively repetition of hammer-strokes is produced. The operator can also produce very pleasing rhythmic sounds simulating the sounds K of a tap dancer or the sounds produced by a drum. By skillfully manipulating the device, the clapper may be used for beating time either in solo or in accompaniment to musical instruments, preferably string instruments.

It is to be understood that this musical toy may be made of wood, plastic or any other suitable material in yany size or shape and it may be decorated as desired. also `the hinge and spring construction may be changed as desired.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that We do not limit ourselves to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes yand modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A sounding device comprising a flat wooden body of. substantially `rectangular Shape, a handle forming an extension of one end thereof, wooden clappers hingedly connected at one end to the body, on both sides thereof at opposed points intermediate the ends of said body and spaced from the handle, hammers immovably mounted on the free ends of the clappers, a metal semicircular member fixed on each side of the body at its other end, in the path of movement of the hammers on the clappers, s aid members constituted by metal dish-shaped buttons, the hinge connections between the body and clappers each comprising a hinge plate on the body spaced from said handle, knuckles lat ends of the plate, another hinge plate on the adjacent clapper with knuckles at the top thereof in line with the rstnamed knuckles, a hinge pin extending through the openings in the aligned knuckles, resilient means for urging the hammer carrying ends of the c lappers toward the body including a transverse opening in the body at its juncture with its handle, an integral lug on each hinge plate of the clappers extending upwardly and overlapping and disposed closely adjacent the adjacent end of the opening, and a coiled spring in the opening, the ends ofthe spring impinging against the lugs whereby :the lugs are urged outwardly away from the body and the hammer carrying the ends of the cl'appers are urged inwardly toward the body.

2. A sounding device comprising a at wooden body of substantially rectangular shape, a handle forming an extension of one end thereof, wooden clappers hingedly connected at one end to the body, on both sides thereof at vopposed points intermediate the ends of said body and spaced from the handle, hammers immovably mounted on the vfree ends of the clappers, a metal sernicircular member fixed on each side of the body at its other end, in the path of movement of the hammers on the clappers, said members constituted by metal dish-shaped buttons, the hinge connections between the lbody and clappers each comprising a hinge plate on the body spaced from said handle, knuckles at ends of the plate, another hinge plate on the adjacent clapperwith knuckles at the top thereof in line with the first-named knuckles a hinge pin extending through the openings in the aligned knuckles, and resilient means for urging the hammer carrying ends of the cl'appers toward the body including countersunk portions at the ends of the transverse opening in the body at its juncture with its handle, an integral lug on each hinge plate of the clappers extending upwardly and overlapping, being disposed closely adjacent the adjacent countersunk portion in the body and a rubber pad in each countersunk portion, said pads impinging `against the lugs whereby the lugs are urged outwardly away from the body and the hammer carrying ends of the `clappers are urged inwardly toward the body.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 976,718 Bartholomae Nov. 22, 1910 1,567,803 Ludwig Dec. 29, 1925 1,711,309 Escovar Apr. 30, 1929 2,713,805 Flores a July 26, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 604,485 France Jan. 26, 1926 

